How US Students Calculate ACT Scores in 2024

So, you’ve taken the ACT, and you’re aiming for a top college. Now, the wait begins. How does a raw ACT score even translate into a composite score for your perusal?

In this blog, we’ll break down the process into simple steps, from understanding raw scores to converting them into scale scores and finally calculating your overall composite score. No more confusion; just clear explanations and helpful tips to ensure you’re interpreting your results accurately.

How is the ACT Scored?

The ACT employs a multi-step scoring process to determine your final composite score.

Firstly, each of the four sections (English, Math, Reading, and Science) receives a raw score, simply reflecting the number of questions you answered correctly. Unlike other standardized tests, there’s no penalty for guessing, so attempt every question even if you’re unsure.

Secondly, these raw scores are converted into scaled section scores ranging from 1 to 36. The specifics of this conversion vary slightly for each test form, which is why official practice tests include their own unique ACT scoring charts.

Finally, your four scaled section scores are averaged (rounded to the nearest whole number) to produce your composite ACT score, displayed prominently on your score report. This composite score provides a concise representation of your overall performance across all tested areas.

Calculate ACT Score in 3 Easy Steps

In just a few minutes, you can learn how to calculate your ACT score! To ensure the most accurate results, find the ACT scoring chart that came with your exam. This chart translates your raw scores into scale scores, which is the official scoring system used by the ACT.

If you don’t have your test’s scoring chart readily available, don’t worry! You can estimate your scale scores using the sample chart below. Remember that this is just an estimate, and the actual conversion might differ slightly.

Step 1: Find your raw score

Before calculating your raw score, gather the answer key that came with your ACT practice exam. Award yourself 1 point for each correct answer. There is no penalty for incorrect answers, so take your time and be thorough when grading each section: English, Math, Reading, and Science. Rushing can lead to careless mistakes that might affect your score.

Step 2: Convert raw scores to scaled scores

After completing each section of your practice test, take the next step: converting your raw scores (the number of correct answers) into scaled scores ranging from 1 to 36. This conversion ensures fair comparisons across different test forms with varying difficulty levels.

To achieve this, locate your practice test’s official ACT score chart. This chart typically comes with the test or is available for download from the official ACT website. On the chart, find the column corresponding to the specific section you’re scoring (English, Math, Reading, or Science). Then, identify your raw score within that column and locate the corresponding scaled score in the leftmost or rightmost column, depending on the chart’s layout.

Step 3: Average together your scale scores

In the final step, calculate your ACT composite score by averaging your four individual scale scores. This crucial score, prominently displayed on your official report, is the first impression college admissions counselors have of your academic abilities.

Simply add your scores in each subject and divide the sum by 4 to obtain the average. If you get a decimal, round up to the nearest whole number if it’s 0.5 or higher, and round down if it’s lower than 0.5, following ACT Inc.’s guidelines.

Read Also: What is ACT Superscore & Which Colleges Accept it?

Sample ACT Scoring Chart

This is a sample ACT raw score conversion grid, provided for informational purposes only, from the free practice test available on the ACT website. The actual score conversion chart for each ACT administration differs, so use this one as a general reference point.

Scale Score	English Raw Score	Math Raw Score	Reading Raw Score	Science Raw Score
36	75	59—60	40	40
35	73–74	57–58	39	39
34	71–72	55–56	38	38
33	70	54	—	37
32	69	53	37	—
31	68	52	36	36
30	67	50–51	35	35
29	66	49	34	34
28	64–65	47–48	33	33
27	62–63	45–46	32	31–21
26	60–61	43–44	31	30
25	58–59	41–42	30	28–29
24	56–57	38-40	29	26-27
23	53–55	36–37	27–28	24–25
22	51–52	34–35	26	23
21	48–50	33	25	21–22
20	45–47	31–32	23–24	19–20
19	42–44	29–30	22	17–18
18	40–41	27–28	20–21	16
17	38–39	24–26	19	14–15
16	35–37	19–23	18	13
15	33–34	15–18	16–17	12
14	30–32	12–14	14–15	11
13	29	10–11	13	10
12	27–28	8–9	11–12	9
11	25–26	6–7	9–10	8
10	23–24	5	8	7

Read Also: What is Considered as a Good ACT Score in 2024?

How is the ACT Writing Test Scored?

Taking the ACT Writing Test provides students and colleges with additional insights beyond the standard four subject areas. The test awards five scores: a single subject-level writing score (2–12) and four domain scores (2–12) based on specific criteria.

These domains are Ideas and Analysis, Development and Support, Organization, and Language Use and Conventions. The subject-level score is the average of the four domain scores. While taking the Writing test doesn’t impact your other scores, it generates an English Language Arts (ELA) score, which colleges often consider.

Your essay will be evaluated on its ability to:

• Clearly state your perspective on a complex issue and analyze its relationship to at least one other perspective.
• Develop and support your ideas with solid reasoning and relevant examples.
• Organize your thoughts logically and coherently.
• Communicate effectively using standard written English.

Two trained readers score your essay, each providing a 1-6 score in each domain. Their scores are combined, and if they differ by more than one point, a third reader resolves the discrepancy.

Read Also: What Are ACT Percentiles and Score Rankings?

From the Desk of Yocket

One of the key features of the ACT scoring system is its simplicity. Each section is scored on a uniform scale of 1–36. It makes it easy to understand and compare scores across different sections and test-takers. Additionally, the composite score, which is the average of all four sections, provides a single, holistic indicator of overall performance. This simplicity can be seen as a positive, as it allows for clear and straightforward comparisons between students.

However, some argue that this simplicity comes at the cost of overlooking nuances in individual performance. For example, the ACT does not differentiate between different types of errors within a section, nor does it account for the difficulty level of individual questions. This can potentially lead to situations where students with different strengths and weaknesses receive the same score.

Another point of discussion is the optional writing test. While its separate scoring avoids penalizing students who may not excel in writing, it also raises questions of fairness and consistency. Some argue that writing is an essential skill for college success and therefore should be factored into the overall score. Others believe that keeping writing separate allows students with varying writing abilities to be evaluated fairly across other sections. For personalized guidance and insights into the impact of writing scores on college admissions, Yocket is here to assist you.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the ACT scoring format?

Each section of the ACT is scored on a scale of 1–36. Your composite score is the average of your scores in all four sections. You can also take an optional writing test, which is scored separately.

What is the average ACT score?

According to ACT.org. the current average ACT score is 19.8 (composite) as of 2022. However, the average score varies depending on the section and the college you are applying to.

How long does it take to get my ACT scores?

The ACT scores are typically available online within 2–8 weeks of the ACT test date.